Is e1143 vegan?

E1143 is the European food additive code for glucose oxidase, an enzyme used primarily as an oxidizing agent and dough conditioner. It is manufactured industrially through the controlled aerobic fermentation of non-pathogenic fungi, most commonly strains of Aspergillus niger or Penicillium chrysogenum. The microbial culture is grown on plant-derived carbohydrate media, after which the enzyme is separated, filtered, and purified into liquid or powdered preparations.

Food manufacturers add E1143 to commercial bread and baked goods to strengthen gluten networks, improve dough elasticity, and enhance loaf volume. It also functions as an oxygen scavenger and preservative in bottled beverages, fruit juices, and mayonnaise alternatives to prevent oxidation, staling, and color degradation during storage.

This ingredient is classified as vegan because it is derived entirely from microbial fermentation rather than animal-derived raw materials. The fungi, nutrient substrates, and processing aids used to produce glucose oxidase are of microbial, plant, or mineral origin, with no animal tissues or animal-derived processing aids involved in its standard manufacturing process.